Is it safe to have House Cleaners in your Home during the Pandemic?

There are so many questions regarding what is safe and what should be avoided during this pandemic. One of the constants is to keep things clean and disinfected. So the question that some people have is, “Is it safe to have my house cleaners in my home?” There is no guarantee that anyone coming into your home is Covid free, however, you need to weigh the pros and cons and ask several questions. First, determine whether or not you are able to keep your home clean and disinfected. It is a fact that it is essential to keep surfaces clean to help fight germs and viruses. If you are unable to do it yourself, then it is wise to hire a reputable service. Here are a few things to consider or ask regarding a cleaning service:

1. Are special procedures and checks put in place and health monitored on everyone entering your home? What are those procedures and checks?

2. Are cleaning tools and equipment disinfected between homes?

3. Are the cloths and mops used in your home cleaned and disinfected before use?

4. What types of cleaners and disinfectants are used? Are they approved by the EPA as being effective against Covid 19? Are the cleaners trained in using them properly?

5. Are the cleaners equipped with masks and protective equipment and trained on how to use them properly?

6. Have the cleaners or cleaning company provided you with information, procedures and policies established to adhere to CDC guidelines?

7. Are the cleaners and cleaning company adhering to social distancing measures? They should be requesting that you are in a separate area of the home while they are there.

8. Are you monitoring your health before allowing someone in your home?

9. Does your cleaning service offer a fogging service to kill the virus in areas that may be hard to reach?

The Washington Post noted: Like everyone else, Anthony S. Fauci has to balance coronavirus risks in his everyday life. But while he may not be eating in restaurants, Fauci is having his house professionally cleaned, he told The Washington Post in July.

“The only person who comes into the house besides [my wife], Christine, and me is the woman who cleans the house once every two weeks,” said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “She wears a mask and gloves at all times while in the house.”

Though everyone has to decide for themselves what is wise and how best to protect themselves and their families, one thing is evident and that is that we need to keep our environment as clean as possible. We here at Prescott Maid to Order are here to help you with this goal.

Housecleaning 101

When I visit a home to find out how we can help someone with their cleaning needs, I will usually ask “how can we help you?”.  I may need to change my approach because often the response is “Well….I want my house cleaned”.  As simple and obvious as it may sound, there are actually a lot of variations of types of cleanings, types of houses, types of people and their specific needs.  For example, a single gentleman living alone, no pets, may want the very basics and with little frequency.  “Just do my floors and clean the bathrooms”.  My next visit may be someone who wants a very detailed cleaning, more often and with lots of instructions. Some may not even know what they are looking for, but just know they need HELP.  

We have to take into consideration that some people may LIKE or WANT to do certain things, like dusting their prize collection of knick knacks, figurines, glass vases or statues.  It’s important that a cleaning crew knows the specific needs and wants of each individual person we serve.  Specific instruction as to how they want a surface or room cleaned is valuable. The customer should feel confident that there will not be damage and that the surface, such as a high quality wood floor or a special type of kitchen counter is being properly cleaned and treated with care. This is their home, it’s personal.  Very few services out there are as personal as someone coming into your home, on a regular basis, being around your children, pets and touching your stuff.

Giving up a job such as house cleaning is sometimes difficult to someone who has taken pride for many years in the work they have done themselves to make their house a home.  It’s uncomfortable to admit to someone or themselves that they need a little help, unlike all the years before. With that in mind, a cleaning crew needs to be aware and place importance on the requests and desires of the customer.
So, what are the basics?  A good cleaning of the bathrooms including toilets, counters, sinks, showers, tubs, glass doors, mirrors, light fixtures and floors. In the kitchen, all the outside surfaces, counters, sinks, outside of appliances, stove top, and inside the microwave. In the living areas and bedrooms of the house, dusting of the furniture and cleaning the floors.

How about the deeper stuff? Along with all of the above, someone may want all the fans cleaned, the baseboards scrubbed, the light fixtures cleaned and shined, the cabinets oiled, the blinds cleaned, the inside of the oven and the refrigerator cleaned, the pot shelves dusted.  How about the tops of those kitchen cabinets!

Regardless of the depth and instruction of the particular job, the company that does that job needs to understand the customer, understand the instructions, genuinely care about the home they are going in to and take pride in the work they do. 

 
Wishing everyone a wonderful Summer!

Enjoy Your "Happy" Summer

We'd like to invite you to “Enjoy every day this summer and leave the cleaning to us”.  As the weather turns warmer and we come into “vacation season”, I automatically feel happier.  People are out and about and enjoying our beautiful area.  It is a time when kids are out of school, family often comes to visit or you take that much anticipated vacation.  

Here at our company, we encourage our friends and community to enjoy their season and let the professionals take some of the tasks that they normally do, off their list and lift a weight off their shoulders.  We encourage our employees to be happy and we strive to make our clients happy as well.

I recently came across this list whose author I am not aware of, but is worth passing along:

TEN THINGS HAPPY PEOPLE DON’T DO

1. They don’t worry a lot about what other people think.
2. The don’t waste time doing things they dislike
3. They don’t try to manipulate or change other people
4. They don’t get stuck in the past
5. They don’t obsess over what MIGHT happen in the future
6. They don’t strive to achieve absolute perfection
7. They don’t forget to be thankful
8. They don’t value material possessions over experiences
9. They don’t seek fulfillment in the wrong places
10. They don’t stay in a negative situation long

Why would I include this list in an article about cleaning?  Because many people I run into feel “guilty” if they do something for themselves or accept help.  They may worry about what other people think if they seek help.  They get “stuck” (like in number 4 on the list) not knowing where to start on a project or a move.  It sometimes seems overwhelming when there is a life change like a move or a house sale.  A recent client called when her Aunt had passed and it was now her responsibility to get the house ready to sell.  This was almost more that she was able to comprehend completing because of the condition that the house was in.  After an initial day of cleaning and professional carpet cleaning, she tearfully thanked us for taking some of this huge task off her plate.  What a great feeling to provide a service that contributed to someone's happiness today!

THE VACATION RENTAL EXPERIENCE

There is a lot of talk out there about vacation rentals in Prescott.  Some are in support and some are against the vacation rental industry here in Prescott and the surrounding communities.  Regardless of what side of the fence you are on, the fact is that people want to come here and enjoy the many things this area has to offer. 

The Prescott area continues to be named “The Best” in many publications and surveys including:

#1     “Best Place to Retire” – escapehere.com
#13     “Happiest Healthiest City” in the country – Sunset Magazine
#5    “Best Arizona Attraction” – USA TODAY
#3    “100 Best Places To Retire” – topretirements.com
#1    “Best Destination for Nature Lovers” – Expedia

With all of this in mind, owners of vacation rentals need quality, professional and reliable service to keep the properties in shape and cleaned between renters.  Many owners work out of the area or just don’t have the time to manage the maintenance and cleaning required to provide a successful vacation rental.  It is important to have a bonded and insured company overseeing the ongoing cleaning schedule.

The company should:
*Provide quality cleaning
*Handle laundry service
*Monitor condition of the property
*Report damage or excessive use
*Provide pictures of property condition to owner
*Be available to make minor repairs
*Report daily maintenance issues such as light bulbs, batteries in fire alarms
*Restock supplies and snacks
*Take care of outside yard maintenance
*Respond to renters needs when requested
*Provide professional window and floor cleaning

I am sometimes amazed at how lucky I am

to be able to live every day in a place that many people spend their valuable vacation time to visit.  I am able to look out my window and watch as people from all walks of life enjoy the trails and the outdoors.  It is very important that visitors are able to return to a clean and comfortable place to stay while here.  It is our goal at Prescott Maid to Order to help owners provide a positive and wonderful experience for their renters.

Simplify and "Clean Up" this Spring

Ready for the Spring?  Feeling overwhelmed with your current day to day tasks? Feeling guilty about what you don’t accomplish? Afraid to make those big household project plans because there is just “not enough time”?  Everyone feels these types of feelings at some time or another or in some cases...always.  In an effort to “simplify” the day to day, here are some suggestions to consider:

    • EVALUATE HOW SPEND YOUR TIME – Make a list.  Put the priorities on top.  List the things that can be done by someone else and hire it out or ask for help. Limit the extras and eliminate the junk.

    • SLOW DOWN – We often sacrifice the important things to satisfy accomplishing everything. Families often running in different directions, work and career obligations, school activities, community and church events, household chores and so many other things keep us from slowing down and spending the appropriate amount of time on the appropriate activities.  Take stock and make priorities.
     
    • DE-CLUTTER – Own less, get rid of the “stuff”, clear out and clean up.  Either in one big project or just a little at a time.  Too many material possessions complicate our days and consume our attention.  Clean out the closet, organize the garage, get rid of the stuff that you haven’t used in the last year.  Do you really need it?  Does it ad value to your life? Donate the good stuff, it feels good.
     
    • DELEGATE – Take a load off.  Let someone else do it.  We see this all the time in our industry.  Clients are just “done” doing the stuff they have done themselves for many years. They call us and say, I just don’t want to spend my valuable time cleaning.  Hire a reputable company to come in and help do the things that you don’t want to do.  You will find yourself feeling lighter and happier when it is done…..by someone else.
     
    • COMPLAIN LESS -  You’ve no doubt heard the story of  the 2 fighting wolves inside all of us.  The one with good thoughts and deeds and the one that spreads negativity and unhappiness.  It is the one that you feed that ultimately wins.
     
    • SERVE OTHERS – There is no better feeling than helping someone.  When we serve, we lose ourselves.  At Maid to Order, we help people achieve the tasks that they need done.  Some are unable to do the physical work any more. It’s a great feeling.

In your efforts to simplify and clean up your life this Spring, we hope you will call us to help you with your goals.  We look forward to this beautiful time of year.  We want to work with the people in our community to help them with their cleaning needs in their homes and businesses.  Prescott Maid to Order and MTO Janitorial wish you a beautiful Spring and Summer!

Get Your Home Ready For Spring

This is the time of year that we start thinking about warmer weather.  There are things that need to be done to prepare your home for the upcoming Spring and Summer.  Spring and Fall are optimum times during the year to take care of several semiannual tasks around the house.

The outside of your home is where you will be spending much of your time as the weather continues to warm up and the leaves start to come back.  Clear gutters and downspouts of debris and leaves that have collected throughout the year.  Consider some new landscape projects, tree planting, designing the garden you’ve always wanted, adding a deck or adding rock landscape.  It’s time to start planning these projects and preparing the ground, clearing out old plants, bushes, trees and weeds to make way for your outdoor dream yard.

Don’t forget the top of your house that protects everything inside.  Inspect the roof for loose, broken or missing shingles or tiles.  You may want to have a professional roofer do an inspection so that you are confident that you are ready for the summer monsoon season.  If you have a wood burning fireplace, this is a good time to have the chimney swept and checked for excessive soot, leaves, bird nests etc.

Windows, windows, windows!  How else to enjoy the outdoors while inside than to have beautiful sparkling clean windows.  Make sure that the window cleaning includes cleaning out the tracks and cleaning the screens.  Look up high and down low. Other interior spring cleaning tasks would include cleaning the fans and light fixtures, getting up and getting all the dust off of those high pot shelves and cleaning doors and door frames. Down low would be cleaning under beds, couches and scrubbing those baseboards that collect so much dust.

Lastly, but very importantly, would be to test all of your emergency systems including fire and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.  Replace batteries and make sure all systems are clean, charged and in working order.

Hire professionals that are bonded, insured and businesses that are locally owned.  They can make sure the jobs are done correctly and safely, and you can feel good that you are contributing to the health of our Quad City area economy.

We here are Maid to Order hope you have a beautiful and clean spring!!
www.prescottmaidtoorder.com
Prescott Arizona
Prescott Valley Arizona
928-899-8518

Prescott Maid to Order talks about the importance of professional cleaning at your Prescott vacation rental

Renters want to move into a place that is clean and fresh. Prescott Maid to Order offers advice about the importance of professional cleaning at your Prescott vacation rental.

Sure, you have put a lot of work into sprucing up your vacation rental for the next guests, but it is all about the details! Vacationers are very disappointed when they enter a vacation rental only to find that details were overlooked. Perhaps the beds were not perfectly made. Maybe the bathrooms just don't feel like they are fully cleaned and sanitized. This makes all the difference in the world as to whether they will return or recommend your rental to their friends.

Prescott Maid to Order to the rescue!

Being the local favorite for rental property cleaning, we implement a detailed checklist for every vacation rental.

• Our attention to detail ensures that your rental property is in perfect condition for check in every time the vacationers arrive. 
• We recognize every factor that must be considered for prepping your rental property for every guest every time. 
• Rest easy, because your rental property will be clean as a whistle and always ready to please all of your incoming guests.

Prescott Maid to Order recognizes the importance of professional cleaning at your Prescott vacation rental to keep your income property profitable. Let us provide customized cleaning services necessary to keep your vacation rental occupied with happy guests! For a free quote, call the vacation rental experts at Prescott Maid to Order today at 928-899-8518. Learn more at
http://www.prescottmaidtoorder.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Prescott Vacation Rental Cleaning
Carpet Cleaning in Prescott
Helpful Cleaning Articles

Prescott Maid to Order discusses one-time cleaning for your home in Prescott

Imagine coming home to a sparkling clean kitchen and relaxing in your spotlessly clean living room after a long day. Prescott Maid to Order offers one-time cleaning for your Prescott home.

 A one-time cleaning service is just that: one time! You don’t have to commit to a scheduled cleaning service. Sometimes our lives can get a little busy, so tidying up can be put on the back burner. You may try to ignore the dirty floors to get other responsibilities done, but having a messy space can really stress you out! Let a one-time cleaning service take a weight off your shoulders when life gets hectic.

A professional service will custom clean to your specifications. They clean most spaces such as:

• Kitchen
• Bathroom
• Living room
• Windows

Plus, they can dust ceiling fans, mop the floors, and even wipe down the kitchen sink!

A one-time cleaning service can also be great if you want to prepare your house for holiday dinner guests, birthday parties, and family gatherings. Wouldn’t you rather spend your time relaxing with the special people in your life instead of stressing about scrubbing your bathroom shower?

You deserve a break! Take cleaning the house off your to-do list so you can get back to the things that matter most to you. Prescott Maid to Order will work around your schedule to do as much or as little as you need to have done. To schedule your free estimate for one-time or regular cleaning for your Prescott home, contact Prescott Maid to Order today at 928-899-8518.
Visit http://www.prescottmaidtoorder.com for more information about our services.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Professional Home Cleaners in Prescott
Prescott Carpet Cleaning
Helpful Cleaning Articles

Prescott Maid to Order: Let the sun shine in with clean windows at your Prescott home

Prescott's winters may mean you spend a little less time doing outdoor chores, but somebody has to do them or your home is going to show it. No, we don't get to use winter as our reason for dirty windows. At Prescott Maid to Order we LOVE to help! We provide personalized care and attention to every home. Here are some tips to help make it a little easier to keep your windows clean even in the winter.

Supplies - before going outside, gather these supplies first:

• Brush - to remove snow from window ledges
• Gloves - use waterproof gloves (over a comfortable cotton pair) to protect hands and keep them warm
• Regular dish soap
• Bucket of water
• Sponge - for easy washing
• Squeegee - for easy drying
• Towels - for extra drying and clean up
• Extension pole (to avoid unnecessary time on a ladder)
• Ladder (and only with a helper for safety)

Wintertime cleaning tips

• Remove dirt and debris from tracks and sills before washing the glass
• Very lightly sponge the glass with soap and water
• Squeegee the glass from top to bottom
• Use a towel to wipe the squeegee dry after every pass
• Use completely clean towels to limit streaking

If you can happily imagine - and would prefer - having someone else with a bucket in one hand and a squeegee in the other cleaning the windows in your Prescott home this winter, call Prescott Maid to Order. We LOVE to help! We provide personalized care and attention to every home. Prescott Maid to Order can keep not only your windows bright and sparkling but your whole house, too. Call us today at 928-899-8518 to schedule your winter window cleaning. For more information, visit us at http://www.prescottmaidtoorder.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Prescott Carpet Cleaning
Professional Home Cleaning in Prescott
Helpful Cleaning Articles

Prescott Maid to Order: The importance of carpet cleaning in your Prescott home

Even if you vacuum daily, the carpets in your home trap a lot of dirt and dust. These elements are embedded deep down in the fibers and can result in health issues and allergies. At Prescott Maid to Order, we LOVE to help! We offer personalized care and attention to every home, and want you to be aware of the importance of carpet cleaning in your Prescott home.

Not only embedded dirt and dust, but spills, pets, and moisture can also lead to ugly discoloration and stains. You can rent a wet vac and go to the wearisome task of trying to address these problems yourself, but by far, the best way to get keep your carpets clean and fresh is to hire an excellent professional service to do the job right: A service like Prescott Maid to Order.

Before you hire a professional service to clean your carpet, it’s a good idea to do a little research. This way you will know what to expect and it will help you to make sure that the job is done right. Once you find the right service, getting your carpets professionally cleaned should be a regular part of your home maintenance schedule. Unless you have a lot of pets or a lot of children, getting your carpets cleaned every six months is usually adequate.

If you live in a dusty area (like the Prescott area) air quality is another good reason to hire expert carpet cleaners who use the right equipment. Get rid of all the dust and pollen that had sunk deep into the carpet fibers! This will help you reduce problems from allergies and keep the air quality in your home high. Air quality is necessary for healthy living.

Prescott Maid to Order hopes this discussion of the importance of carpet cleaning in your Prescott home is helpful to you. When it comes to cleaning your home, hiring a professional is the best way to go. We LOVE to help! We provide personalized care and attention to every home. For a free estimate, call us today at 928-899-8518. For more information, visit us at http://www.prescottmaidtoorder.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Prescott Cleaning Services
Professional Home Cleaners in Prescott
Helpful Cleaning Articles

Prescott Maid to Order shares tips on carpet cleaning in your Prescott home

How would you like to make cleaning the carpet in your Prescott home quicker, easier, and more effective? Prescott Maid to Order can help you accomplish all three with a few handy tips.

1. To be effective, start by setting your vacuum cleaner at the right height. If it's too low you can damage both your carpet and your vacuum cleaner...specifically the drive belt and roller brush. If your vacuum’s height is too high, you're driving over the dirt instead of picking it up. How do you know what the right height is? Raise the height to the highest setting, turn the vacuum on and lower the setting until you can feel your vacuum slowing tugging itself forward as you start to clean.


2. To save time, vacuum often. Ironic, isn't it? The less you vacuum, the more you have to vacuum and for longer. Who wants to vacuum longer? Oily soils multiply and attract more oily soils. By vacuuming high-traffic areas more frequently you will help prevent soil buildup. To save time, don't let dirt build up and get ground into your high-traffic areas. It'll only take that much more time to get your carpet clean.


3. To make vacuuming easier, begin with a clean bag or cup, and a clean filter. A nearly full bag or cup reduces your vacuum’s suction by half. If you want your bagless vacuum to be effective - and if you don't want it to stop working - clean its filter often. Wash or replace the filter at least every three months, keep the bag less than ¾ full, and empty the cup often.

And to really help, use mats outside and inside of every exterior door. Coarse mats help to remove soil before it hits the carpet.

Prescott Maid to Order understands that a few simple carpet-cleaning tips will make vacuuming the carpet in your Prescott home quicker, easier, and more effective. The easiest option of all is to let the carpet-cleaning experts at Prescott Maid to Order make not only your carpet beautifully clean again, but your whole house. If you'd like some help with your carpet cleaning, or would like a free estimate for any home cleaning, call us today at 928-899-8518 or visit us at http://www.prescottmaidtoorder.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Professional Home Cleaners in Prescott
Prescott Window Cleaning
Helpful Articles

Prescott Maid to Order talks about having the carpeted stairs in your Prescott home professionally cleaned

Do you have carpet in your Prescott home? If you have an active family and/or pets, you’re aware of the traffic patterns on your carpet that need cleaning more often. Areas near doorways tend to collect more dirt; dining areas are subject to food and spills. You vacuum regularly and even have your carpets professionally cleaned. Prescott Maid to Order wants to remind you when you have your carpets professionally cleaned, don’t forget the carpeting on the stairs!

Carpet on stairs is easy to neglect. After all, it’s hard to get the vacuum up and down the steps. And the carpeting on the stairs is a potential spill catcher if your family carries food or drinks up and down the stairs. We spend very little time on the stairs as compared with the rest of our homes, so dirt or stains there don’t get noticed as readily. But cleaning the carpet on the staircase actually is needed as often, if not more often, than the carpet in other rooms.

Here are some things you can do to get the most from your professional carpet cleaning:

• Ask the carpet cleaning professional if you should vacuum your carpet before they arrive. Some companies will vacuum before they clean the carpets. Others expect the homeowner to do that.

• Dust your baseboards before your carpet cleaning to prevent soiling the carpets right after they’re cleaned.

• Speak with your carpet cleaning professional about moving furniture. Some companies charge an additional fee for moving the furniture; some may offer a discount for cleaning only the high-traffic areas.

• Move floor lamps and other items, such as bedding, dust ruffles, and floor length curtains, anything that might get in the carpet cleaner’s way.

• Point out any spots or stains that may need pre-treating.

Remember, the commercial equipment used by professional carpet cleaners has more powerful suction, and is able to extract more dirt for cleaner carpet, and extract more water for a shorter drying time. Prescott Maid to Order offers professional carpet cleaning services--and we can clean the carpeted stairs in your Prescott home. If your carpets are due for a cleaning, or to take advantage of our other cleaning services, call Prescott Maid to Order at 928-899-8518 for a free estimate. Learn more at http://www.prescottmaidtoorder.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Professional Cleaning in Prescott
Prescott Home Cleaners
Helpful Cleaning Articles

It’s Spring - Prescott Maid to Order Says It’s the Best Time to Clean Your Carpets

When is the best time of year to have your carpets professionally cleaned? That question is certainly up for debate. Just before the house guests arrive? During the summer when it’s warm and you can let in some fresh air? While it would be ideal to have your carpets cleaned every season, the reality is most people will choose yearly carpet cleaning in Prescott.  Prescott Maid to Order suggests Spring is the best season to clean your carpets, and offers a look at what your carpets endure through the year.

Spring: The nasty winter weather has ended and we’ve had our homes closed up for months. We’re ready for “spring cleaning” and removing salt, dirt, mud and whatever else has been tracked into the home. The longer dirt stays in your carpet, the more likely it is to wear out the carpet fibers. This is a great time to freshen up your home, and prevent unnecessary wear to your carpet.

Summer: The windows are open and fresh air is coming in, along with pollens, mold spores and other pollutants. Then the air conditioning unit moves those particles around. Much of those outdoor particles will become trapped in your carpeting. But since we’re spending more time outdoors or going on vacation, this might not be the time you’d choose to get carpets cleaned.

Fall: School is back in session and kids are back in their routines. Some of those routines include added foot traffic around your home. The holiday season is approaching and you’d like your home to look its best. Maybe you’re anticipating family and friends coming to visit. With all the preparations for holidays and house guests, you may not want to interrupt your busy schedule to have the carpets cleaned.

Winter: The days are shorter and we’re spending more time indoors. Our homes are closed to keep out the cold. We may prefer spending time snuggling up by the fireplace rather than taking on a carpet cleaning project.

Even if you can’t see the soil, dust and dirt on your carpet, what you don’t see can be wearing out your carpets. To keep it cleaner longer, it’s a good practice to remove your shoes before walking on your carpet no matter what the season.

Remember that Prescott Maid to Order can help keep your home cleaner and healthier. In addition to professional carpet cleaning in Prescott, our services range from complete house cleaning to trash removal and window cleaning. To get a free quote, please give Prescott Maid to Order a call to schedule an appointment at 928-899-8518. To learn more about our quality services, please visit our website at http://www.prescottmaidtoorder.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
House cleaning in Prescott
Prescott Carpet Cleaning
Helpful Cleaning Articles